Poultry-car.



H. W. BURGETT.

POULTRY GAR. APPLIOATION FILED MAR.1 5,1907.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 sums-SHEET 1.

5 '29 I aa 2/ 55 29 7 2/ I 52 .58

2277'? KY2" 55722 5 lUzLt/zesses: Fly 1110 121501";

m: NORRIS PETER: cm. vulsnmcnm, 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. BURGETT, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN POULTRY CAR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

POULTRY-CAR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. BURGETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Poultry-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cars for transporting live poultry and other live stock, and its object isto provide a convenient and e'fficient means for ventilating the said cars at all times.

It consists in providing an adjustable series of slats each pivoted at one edge and so constructed that when closed they practically prevent the ingress or egress of air or other fluids.

My invention further consists in the specific improvements hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing in which similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one-half of the car construeted according to my invention, with a large ortion of the exterior screening remove Fig. 2 is a view of the interior of the car showing a plan of the position of the coops with relation to the ventilators, and showing the side Walls of the car in section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing one side of the car provided with my improved ventilating device and method of adjusting same.

Fig.4 is a view showing the ventilating slats in section and connecting devices for the adjustment thereof. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing the general location of each slatv and window and adjacent parts in the side of the car. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of my improved ventilating slats and pivotal support for the same. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the bracket attached to the side of the coop for the purpose of sup orting the adjusting arm.

In t e drawing, 26 is the lower frame of the car supported on the trucks and con structed in any approved manner.

37 are vertical posts arranged at frequent intervals along thesides of the car for the purpose of affording a frame and support for the ventilating and lighting devices.

44 and 45 are metal strips extending in a diagonal direction across the outside of onehalf of the car and strongly attached by Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1907.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 362,460.

bolts or lag screws 46 to the posts 37 and to the sills of the car for the purpose of strengthening and stiffening the same. I use these metal strips because I have found that in constructing a car containing my improvements, it lS1111)OSS1l)l6 to use the wooden braces ordinarily employed for sup orting and sustaining the walls of the car,t1e said braces interfering with the opening and closing of the ventilating slats 43.

are glass windows mounted in suitable frames 33 and secured in the side walls of the car by means of the vertical strips 34 and 35, which are firmly nailed or attached to adjacent vertical posts 37.

18 are coops for the reception of poultry, which are constructed in any approved manner, and are preferably so arranged so as to have each of the feeding troughs opposite one of said windows 15, and to leave vertical spaces between adjacent coops opposite the ventilating slats 43. Each of the ventilating slats 43 maybe of any suitable material, but is preferably of wood having a groove 39 at the top thereof so constructed as to fit a similar groove 40 in the adjacent slat. Affixed to the lower edge of each end of said slats are pivots 22, which are journaled in the openings 23 of the uprights 21. and are secured thereto by means of the cap strips 24, having therein openings 25 corresponding to the openings 23, and being secured to said uprights 21 by means of nails or screws or in any approved manner. Upon fastening the uprights 21 to the posts 37, by the screws 20, each series of slats is duly installed. The entire system of slats is preferably so constructed that the same may be closed tightly so as to form a smooth surface on the interior of the car and effectually to exclude cold air and moisture. In practice I prefer to employ two series of ventilating slats located one above the other, each of which is operated independently of the other. All of the slats of one series are connected, the slats being united by means of the connecting bar 29 composed of wood or other suitable material, and carrying thereon staples 31, which are connected with staples 30 attached to the central portion of each slat near the top thereof.

28 is an adjusting arm connected at one end by the staple 67 to the bar 29, and having near the other end loops or slots 41, for

the purpose of engaging the bracket 27 on the side of the coop 18, and holding the said arm 28 in proper engagement.

42 is a handle integral with said arm 28 for the purpose of furnishing the operator a convenient means of handling the same.

32 are wooden or metal strips attached by screws 19 to the posts 37 for the purpose of preventing the opening of the slats 43 beyond a certain angle.

14 are slats at the top of the car 16 similar in character to the slats 43, and are opened and closed by the rod 36. In practice I sometimes cover the outer wall of the car with metal screening 17 for the urpose of protecting the windows and venti ating slats from exterior injury. Access to the car is had through the doors 38, one being on each side of the car.

The method of opening the ventilating slats is apparent, it being only necessary to pull the adjusting arm 28, which movement is communicated to the slats 43 by means of the vertical bar 29 and connecting staples 67, 31 and 30. The degree of opening is regulated by the slots 41 engaging with the bracket 27, and the slats may thus be opened and closed to a greater or less degree and maintain a fixed relation to each other.

The structure described provides for positively holding the slats from movement in either direction whenever fully or partially opened. Therefore, even when there is a strong rush of air due to the speed of the car when traveling, the said slats cannot be rattled or shaken violently, and therefore there is little or no liability of any of the slats becoming broken as would be the case if they were loose or free so that a rush of air past or between them could violently agitate them. Furthermore the slats always 0 ening toward the inside are revented rom opening at too great an angle by the metal strips 32-, and at all times effectually shed rain and snow.

It will be noticed that the metal strips or braces 44 and 45 extend diagonally or in inclined directions across and outside of all of the several series of slats between the'end of the car and the car door. Each vertical series of slats is arranged in an opening between uprights which opening is comparatively narrow. If the spaces were very wide, both the car and the slats themselves would be weak, the slats being less able to withstand strong rush of air in proportion as they increase in length. Inclined braces arranged to extend only between the uprights or posts 37 could not aiford much bracing or strength for the side and roof of the car because the braces would have to be so nearly vertical. By extending the braces across a lurality of series of slats, the car is so strengt ened that the sides cannot vibrate to an extent sufficient to interfere with the working of the slats. The slats must be comparatively free to be adjusted and so as to fit tightly when closed. Without the brace extending across a number of the openings which contain a number of the slats, the slats then would be very likely to become bound or jammed so thattheywouldnotworkproperly. Ialsofind it of great advantage to secure the pivots 22 at or near the lower portion of each slat. The staples 30 at the upper edge of said slats serve to secure the application of the adjusting mechanism at a point where it is most effective. In such case the distance from the axis of the pivots to the free edges of the slats is slight relatively to the distance from said axis to the connected edges of the slats, and a maximum of adjusting and holding leverage is secured. By this arrangement a greater degree of leverage is secured than with any former devices known to the art, and the adjustment of the slats accomplished with a minimum expenditure of energy.

By means of my improved ventilator I am enabled to provide air to all parts of the car in such quantities as may be desired, and can if necessary close the car entirely to the ingress or egress of any air whatsoever. I am aware that shutters have been before used for the purpose of ventilating poultry cars, but so far as I know no shutters have ever been made which can be closed one into the other so as to effectually exclude cold and moisture. In the closing shutters heretofore placed on the market, no effective means have been provided to prevent cold or moist winds from entering the car through the same, it being well known that any shutters with overlapping edges cannot provide an efiective barrier to the passage of air currents and other fluids.

A serious drawback in connection with the business of transporting live poultry is the loss sustained by mortality and the shrinkage in weight, being caused by overcrowding, lack of protection from storms and the extremes of temperature. To overcome this is the object of my improved ventilator. Attempts have been heretofore made to remedy the said evils, but up to the time of my invention no practical method has been devised by which the fowls can be shielded from the sun and rain in summer, snow and cold in winter, and at the same time affording light, air and ventilation, which is so essential to the well being of the poultry. A car constructed upon my plan can be closed in winter so as to eifeotua'lly shut out the cold, thereby retaining the natural heat of the fo'wls to keep them warm; while in summer the shields or slats being set at such an angle as to exclude the sun, act as an awning over a window, thus keeping the car cool and at the same time creating a current of air which passes through the interior of the car upward and out through the top ventilators.

Thus there is assured a temperature nearer the degree desired than is possible by any other method previously employed.

There are many poultry cars now on the market, Where the side walls are constructed merely of screening, and no protection is afforded the birds from temperature or weather. These cars are very unsatisfactory and I have known of instances where a sudden rain storm in summer has deluged the side of the car in such a manner that five hundred (500) head of poultry have been drowned within the space of a few minutes in spite of all the attendants could do. Also in winter, wet storms beating into the side of the car have caused a large number of birds to be saturated with rain and before they had time to dry, the temperature has fallen so low as to freeze stiff those that were wet. WVhere muslin has been used on the outside to protect the birds, wet snow has stuck to it thereby stopping all passage of the air, and as a consequence hundreds of birds have been smothered. In extreme cold weather birds have not only been frozen to death in large numbers, but the food the survivors were able to eat has acted as fuel instead of nourishment thus causing a great shrinkage in weight.

While I have described the metal strips 44 and 45 as preferably used to brace uprights or posts supporting ventilating slats of the character described, I by no means desire so to limit this feature of my invention, as it is obvious that said strips could be used where the slats of the vertical series were immovable or pivoted above or below the center thereof, or were of different construction.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car for transporting live poultry, a pair of vertical supports, a vertical series of horizontal ventilating slats mounted upon and between said sup orts, each of said slats being pivoted at its ower, edge to said supports, and engaging with the edges of the adjacent slats, combined with adjusting mechanism connected to one edge of each of said slats, the axis of the pivots being near the free edges of the slats and relatively remote from the connected edges of said slats, whereby a maximum of adjusting and holding leverage is secured.

2. In a car for transporting live poultry, a vertical series of ventilating slats, uprights supporting said slats, combined with braces extending diagonally across said uprights and series, and means for securing said braces to said uprights.

3. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats, uprights supporting said slats, combined with braces extending diagonally across said plurality of series, and means for securing said braces to said u rights.

4. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats, uprights and sills supporting said slats, combined with braces extending diagonally across said lurality of series from top to bottom of t rc car, and means for securing said braces to said uprights and sills.

5. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats, uprights and sills supporting said slats, combined with braces extending diagonally across and outside of said plurality of series from top to bottom of the car, and means for securing said braces to said uprights and sills.

6. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats, uprights and sills supporting said slats, screening covering said slats, metal strips extending in a diagonal direction across and outside of said plurality of series and means for securing said metal strips to said uprights and sills.

7. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats inclined so as to shed falling rain and snow, uprights and sills supporting said slats, combined with braces extending diagonally across and outside of said plurality of series, and means for securing said braces to said uprights and sills.

8. In a car for transporting live poultry, a plurality of vertical series of ventilating slats inclined so as to shed falling rain and snow, uprights and sills supporting said slats, combined with two metallic braces extending in opposite directions diagonally across and outside of said plurality of series from top to bottom of the car and means for securing said braces to said uprights and sills.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this sixth day of March 1907.

HENRY I/V. BURGETT. 

